The "Health" Aspect of the Atkins Diet.

[callianthus]

As stated in my first post:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...wednesday.html (Starting Induction on Wednesday!)

I tried Atkins about 4 years ago and lost about 20 lbs in a relatively short amount of time.

Well, I decided to do Atkins again, but this time for the long haul!

The only thing is, I've been getting absolutely NO support whatsoever from my fiance.

He says that Atkins is the "lazy people diet", a diet where you can sit around and do nothing but take things out of your diet and lose weight. I asked him, "What's wrong with that?" and he stated the same-old "People shouldn't be lazy" argument.

He also said that it has been proven to be unhealthy, in fact "Dr. Atkins died at age 50" or whatever.

He keeps calling it "stupid" and "Pointless" and "unhealthy", and tells me that I can do it but when I feel like "crap", he's going to tell me that he told me so.

I know that Atkins has had a bad rep from time to time, in fact I remember when all of the reports started popping up about how unhealthy it is.

Well, I've looked online and all I can find about the "Health" aspect of Atkins (good and/or bad) are either websites solely created to slander Dr. Atkins and his diet, or websites that would take me a few weeks to read all of the information in them.

I didn't think so many people would still be doing the Atkins diet if it was so unhealthy..?

So, what has been reported, and what is true and what is false?

What are your opinions on the matter?

Any and all opinions, suggestions, inputs, comments, etc. are gladly accepted and appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[momtomany1]

Dr. Atkins died in his late 60's after a fall.

People on Atkins eat a minimum of three cups of vegetables a day. That is more than the suggested '5 a day' (1/2 cup servings) you hear touted all the time. We cut out fruit in the early days, but we are all about our vegetables.

People on Atkins routinely see their blood chemistry improve, and diabetes even reversed, doing Atkins. Your fiance is buying into a big lie... see this post (**THE BIG FAT LIE**), without realizing it. He doesn't understand the food plan, so he is blasting it in ignorance. Ask him to at least skim over the book if he wants to try to understand. If he is this unsupportive before you have even married him, I have concerns about how supportive he will be afterward! By the way... did you 'feel like crap' the first time you did Atkins? I thought not.

You sound like an intelligent woman who can make informed choices as to what her body needs. You plan on eating whole foods, drinking your water, and exercising, right? Hardly lazy.

Here is one link on the beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.. everyone worries about cholesterol.

BBC NEWS | Health | Scientists endorse Atkins diet

And this is just one of many reports like this. Atkins raises good cholesterol and lowers bad.

Stand up for yourself. When your fiance' calls your plan stupid, give him the eye. When he calls it unhealthy, tell him he is woefully uninformed. When he calls it 'pointless' just say, "We'll see about that."

Who knows? the point might be finding out you need a nicer fiance, one who doesn't tell you ahead of time that he is going to say, "I told you so!'' (Sorry, but I have opinions about how decent people treat one another in relationships.)

But you do what is best for you, and don't listen to anyone who hasn't bothered to inform themselves so as to give an educated response to you. (Who is lazy? sheesh!)

We have your back, and are here for ya.

[JimboK]

Opinion? Get a new fiance.

I'm only half joking. If he's no more supportive than this for something so important to you (which he should realize) before you're married, I'd have to wonder how supportive he will be in any important endeavor after you're married. At a minimum I would tell him, "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all."

OK, enough of the unsolicited advice. I'm in the health care profession. When the Atkins diet first became popular many years ago, like most in my profession I poo-pooed it. It ran totally contrary to conventional wisdom. I had bought into the food-pyramid-and-low-fat dogma from folks like the FDA and the American Heart Association. A few years ago, news reports of positive Atkins results -- both in weight loss and overall health impact -- started getting my attention. Not enough to actually try it, but it softened my view a bit. What finally sold me was the recently-published paper in the New England Journal of Medicine -- one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world.

If he's to be convinced, I suggest using good science like the research described in that paper. Keep up your research and make sure your sources -- and his -- are objective. Here is a sampling of abstracts from other medical journal articles:

Comparison of the effects of four commercially ava...[Public Health Nutr. 2008] - PubMed Result
Protein in optimal health: heart disease and type ...[Am J Clin Nutr. 2008] - PubMed Result
Unlimited energy, restricted carbohydrate diet imp...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2008] - PubMed Result
Clinical experience of a carbohydrate-restricted d...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2004] - PubMed Result
Clinical use of a carbohydrate-restricted diet to ...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2003] - PubMed Result
Effect of low-carbohydrate, unlimited calorie diet...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2003] - PubMed Result
The effects of a low-carbohydrate regimen on glyce...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2003] - PubMed Result
Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets revisited. [Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2008] - PubMed Result

Descriptions of methods and results are a bit technical, but the conclusions are clear and consistent.

[callianthus]

Originally Posted by momtomany1

Dr. Atkins died in his late 60's after a fall.

People on Atkins eat a minimum of three cups of vegetables a day. That is more than the suggested '5 a day' (1/2 cup servings) you hear touted all the time. We cut out fruit in the early days, but we are all about our vegetables.

People on Atkins routinely see their blood chemistry improve, and diabetes even reversed, doing Atkins. Your fiance is buying into a big lie... see this post (**THE BIG FAT LIE**), without realizing it. He doesn't understand the food plan, so he is blasting it in ignorance. Ask him to at least skim over the book if he wants to try to understand. If he is this unsupportive before you have even married him, I have concerns about how supportive he will be afterward! By the way... did you 'feel like crap' the first time you did Atkins? I thought not.

You sound like an intelligent woman who can make informed choices as to what her body needs. You plan on eating whole foods, drinking your water, and exercising, right? Hardly lazy.

Here is one link on the beneficial effects on cholesterol levels.. everyone worries about cholesterol.

BBC NEWS | Health | Scientists endorse Atkins diet

And this is just one of many reports like this. Atkins raises good cholesterol and lowers bad.

Stand up for yourself. When your fiance' calls your plan stupid, give him the eye. When he calls it unhealthy, tell him he is woefully uninformed. When he calls it 'pointless' just say, "We'll see about that."

Who knows? the point might be finding out you need a nicer fiance, one who doesn't tell you ahead of time that he is going to say, "I told you so!'' (Sorry, but I have opinions about how decent people treat one another in relationships.)

But you do what is best for you, and don't listen to anyone who hasn't bothered to inform themselves so as to give an educated response to you. (Who is lazy? sheesh!)

We have your back, and are here for ya.

Thank you!! I can't wait to shove that link/website in his face in the morning... *snickers*!!

And I understand, I have opinions about that kind of stuff, too. He better shape up, or get lost.

Thank you, again!!

Originally Posted by JimboK

Opinion? Get a new fiance.

I'm only half joking. If he's no more supportive than this for something so important to you (which he should realize) before you're married, I'd have to wonder how supportive he will be in any important endeavor after you're married. At a minimum I would tell him, "If you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all."

OK, enough of the unsolicited advice. I'm in the health care profession. When the Atkins diet first became popular many years ago, like most in my profession I poo-pooed it. It ran totally contrary to conventional wisdom. I had bought into the food-pyramid-and-low-fat dogma from folks like the FDA and the American Heart Association. A few years ago, news reports of positive Atkins results -- both in weight loss and overall health impact -- started getting my attention. Not enough to actually try it, but it softened my view a bit. What finally sold me was the recently-published paper in the New England Journal of Medicine -- one of the most prestigious medical journals in the world.

If he's to be convinced, I suggest using good science like the research described in that paper. Keep up your research and make sure your sources -- and his -- are objective. Here is a sampling of abstracts from other medical journal articles:

Comparison of the effects of four commercially ava...[Public Health Nutr. 2008] - PubMed Result
Protein in optimal health: heart disease and type ...[Am J Clin Nutr. 2008] - PubMed Result
Unlimited energy, restricted carbohydrate diet imp...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2008] - PubMed Result
Clinical experience of a carbohydrate-restricted d...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2004] - PubMed Result
Clinical use of a carbohydrate-restricted diet to ...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2003] - PubMed Result
Effect of low-carbohydrate, unlimited calorie diet...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2003] - PubMed Result
The effects of a low-carbohydrate regimen on glyce...[Metab Syndr Relat Disord. 2003] - PubMed Result
Low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets revisited. [Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2008] - PubMed Result

Descriptions of methods and results are a bit technical, but the conclusions are clear and consistent.

Thank you! I also can't wait to shove THOSE links in his face in the morning.. we'll see who told WHO so.

Thanks again, you guys!

[steady as she goes]

SugarFreeSheila.com / SFS.com - Your ULTIMATE Resource For Atkins / Low Carb Help & Information! has a ton of great links, excellent info, as well as her own success story, complete with her bloodwork results (which are amazing).

I too felt a stab of worry when I read that your fiance is being super unsupportive, and from what I can tell very immature, about your choice of eating plan. I hope he shapes up, and if he doesn't, that you can tell him to ship out! your health is more important than his ego.

[liv]

Phoebe (I love your name - it way high on my list when I named my daughter)
I read one of our Mod's journal entries today and she (Sherry) was discussing strategies to succeed. Here is a quote

Stand up for Yourself
It's not always easy to confront people who are sabotaging your weight-loss efforts. Sometimes they'll listen to you and be able to change their behavior, but often their behavior has more to do with their own need for approval than with your need for support. No matter what their response, it's up to you to stay firm and hold your ground. At the end of the day, your health is your responsibility.

Key Relationships
We all have different emotional triggers — positive AND negative — when it comes to relationships in our lives. As you know, I consider these three key relationships crucial to your new, healthy lifestyle: a partner in crime, a role model, and a fan.

While it's wonderful if you can get this kind of support at home, sometimes that's not the easiest place to turn when you're making a major change. So many of my teammates have found the Message Boards to be an essential source of advice about their journey.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...i-see-218.html

If you wonder about health and Atkins you should read some of Sherri's posts. This was posted in news this week
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ry-sherri.html (A True Labor Day Atkins Success Story by Sherri)

[Sherri]

Liv is right, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!
Hello Phoebe,
I can tell you from my own experience with the Atkins. I'm going into my 5th year of my controlled carbohydrate lifestyle. Atkins saved my life. Not only did I reverse my Type-2 Diabetes withing 48 days of Extended Induction, But I also lost 145 pounds and have managed to keep it off. My blood chemistry is at healthy levels. I lost my first 100 pounds in ten months. There are so many benifits to following Atkins.
It's extremely important to surround yourself with a circle of support. I'm glad you're here to get the facts about Atkins and how it truly works.
I look forward to watching your own success here.
Wishing you the best of health and lite.
Sincerely, Sherri AKA Motherearth

[callianthus]

Originally Posted by steady as she goes

SugarFreeSheila.com / SFS.com - Your ULTIMATE Resource For Atkins / Low Carb Help & Information! has a ton of great links, excellent info, as well as her own success story, complete with her bloodwork results (which are amazing).

I too felt a stab of worry when I read that your fiance is being super unsupportive, and from what I can tell very immature, about your choice of eating plan. I hope he shapes up, and if he doesn't, that you can tell him to ship out! your health is more important than his ego.

Wow, that website looks amazing! I am disappointed that I haven't known about it until now! What an inspiration, and such good info, too! Thanks!

My health is DEFINITELY more important than his ego, and we'll see who is telling WHO they told WHO so.. (confusing? lol)

Thanks!

Originally Posted by liv

Phoebe (I love your name - it way high on my list when I named my daughter)
I read one of our Mod's journal entries today and she (Sherry) was discussing strategies to succeed. Here is a quote

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...i-see-218.html

If you wonder about health and Atkins you should read some of Sherri's posts. This was posted in news this week
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ry-sherri.html (A True Labor Day Atkins Success Story by Sherri)

Thank you for the info!!! And thank you! I used to hate my name, but now I looove it!

<3

Originally Posted by Sherri

Liv is right, STAND UP FOR YOURSELF!
Hello Phoebe,
I can tell you from my own experience with the Atkins. I'm going into my 5th year of my controlled carbohydrate lifestyle. Atkins saved my life. Not only did I reverse my Type-2 Diabetes withing 48 days of Extended Induction, But I also lost 145 pounds and have managed to keep it off. My blood chemistry is at healthy levels. I lost my first 100 pounds in ten months. There are so many benifits to following Atkins.
It's extremely important to surround yourself with a circle of support. I'm glad you're here to get the facts about Atkins and how it truly works.
I look forward to watching your own success here.
Wishing you the best of health and lite.
Sincerely, Sherri AKA Motherearth

Wow, 100 pounds in 10 months!? You are TRULY an inspiration! Way to go, girl!

Thank you!

[ttdriver]

Dr. Atkins died at 72 years of age after falling on the ice and hitting his head. What most people do not know is, the great Dr. walked 2 miles each way to work 365 days a year, worked a full-time job as a complementary medicine doctor (previously a cardiologist), played tennis regularly and led a very ACTIVE and healthy life.

There is NOTHING unhealthy about Atkins. What *is* unhealthy are the ignorant misconceptions, false accusations, and other stupid comments and opinions of this way of eating, most of which are proliferated by people who have NEVER read Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and have NO UNDERSTANDING of how the plan truly works, or how to work the plan.

I began my Atkins journey in January 2002, after reading DANDR in one day. I thought this "doctor" must either be a "witch doctor" or a lunatic to actually believe and basically "GUARANTEE" that if I followed this HIGH FAT plan, I would or could lose weight. So, basically on a mission to dismiss him as a looney, I decided to take him on and give it a 2 WEEK TRY ... after that, I would return to "normal eating" with a smug sense of satisfaction after accomplishing my mission of dispelling this low-carb MYTH. I mean, seriously ... eat all that fat and LOSE WEIGHT?

Well, I'll spare you the details, but its now nearly 7 years later, and I'm an Atkins success story, having maintained a 40+ pound weight loss since December 2002. I lost track of the inches I've lost, but I've gone from a missy size 12 to a junior size 1. I'm nearly 53 years old, am post-menopausal and hypothyroid (both issues typically make weight loss difficult, right? WRONG...)

Prior to 2002, I never exercised; in fact, every joint in my not-so-old body ached. My knees were shot; my back hurt so bad I couldn't sleep nights without meds; my hips hurt. I told DH I would need knee replacement before I hit 60.

Well, Dr. Atkins' "unhealthy" plan has more than revolutionized my life .. not only have I shed the weight (which was a shock in itself) .. but I began exercising in 2002 ... DAILY ... and wow! is all I can say ...

I took up running at the age of 47 after NEVER being athletic a day in my life. Sure, it was UGLY at first .. well, actually it was humiliating .. I have no coordination .. but what I *do* have is persistence and tenacity ...

As of today, I have run over 7,000 training miles, and run hundreds of road races, including 2 full 26.2 mile marathons. In fact, I have a third marathon scheduled for March 1, 2009, 3 months after I turn 53 years old.

And you know what? I've done it all while following that "unhealthy" diet I set out to disprove nearly 7 years ago.

The prosecution rests, your honor.




Betty

[momtomany1]

Okay, Cal, your fiance' must surely admit, the above is some serious 'hot factor' for and age at which she certainly can, and may well be! a grandma. Third marathon.

Dare him to say 'unhealthy' and 'lazy' again!

Nice work, by the way, Betty!